When it’s time for you to upgrade your Ford Escape stereo, or replace the factory head unit in your Escape there’s quite a few ways to go about it. You can purchase an install kit and plug and play wiring loom that will make your stereo upgrade painless, but if you are looking to install a navigation system or MP3 player in your Ford crossover, you can use this Ford Escape Stereo Wiring Diagram to help you get the job done.
Need a complete wiring diagram for the speakers and stereo in your Ford Escape? This page is the one for you because we’ll be showing you all three generations of the current SUV. This DIY wiring guide is perfect for any shadetree mechanic or car audio professional, when you need the wiring or colors for the speakers in your Escape.
First Generation Ford Escape Wiring Diagram (2000–2006)
The early generations of the Ford Escape shared quite a bit in common with the Mazda Tributes of the same generation. Installing an aftermarket stereo or radio in this generation is significantly easier due to the spartan dashboard and DIN layout.
Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Orange/Light Green
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ Wire: Yellow/Black
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black
Car Stereo Amplifier Location: Located on the right side of the trunk area.
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Orange/Light Green
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Light Blue/WHite
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Light Green
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Dark Green/Orange
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Tan/Yellow
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Gray/Light Blue
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Orange/Red
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/Pink
Installing a double DIN stereo or navigation system is a perfect fit in the first generation Ford Escape. This wiring schematic for your Escape stereo can be used for your Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute as well.
Second Generation Ford Escape Wiring Diagram (2007–2012)
The first Escape that started using preformed center console plastic trims, making the average job of installing a double DIN head unit much more difficult. Indeed if you bought or own a Ford Escape without the right center console trim, you won’t be able to install a dual DIN or single DIN stereo.
Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: White/Red
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ Wire: Black/Gray
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black – light Gray
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Red/Yellow
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: Red/Green
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: Violet/Red
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): White/Brown
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Violet
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): White/Orange
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Green
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/Yellow
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Brown/White
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/Blue
Along with the changes to the center console stereo layout in the second generation, this Ford Escape was also the first to move away from Ford’s collaborative efforts with Mazda and Mercury. Giving the Escape a full redesign and incorporating elements that help set the Escape apart from the Mazda CX-7 or Ford Kuga.
Third Generation Ford Escape Wiring Diagram (2013+)
Ford takes the third generation Escape in a completely new direction from the 2013 model year forward. Combining the Escape with the European Ford Kuga, upgrades were made to truly set the Escape apart from the other variations.
This Escape wiring diagram for the 2013 and up Ford can help you install or complete the wiring for your radio, stereo, head unit, amplifier or subwoofers. If you are installing an aftermarket stereo you will need a custom install kit that will help you make the conversion from the standard center console plastics and the dual DIN navigation style you will need.
Car Radio Battery Constant 12V+ Wire: Brown/Red
Car Radio Ground Wire: Black
Car Radio Antenna Trigger Wire: Yellow/Green
Car Radio Amp Trigger Wire: Yellow/Green
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): White/Brown
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Purple
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): White/Orange
Car Audio Front Speakers Size: 5″ x 7″ Speakers
Car Audio Front Speakers Depth: 4″
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): White/Green
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/Yellow
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Brown/White
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/Blue
Car Audio Rear Speakers Size: 5″ x 7″ Speakers
Car Audio Rear Speakers Depth: 4″
Like all of our articles on My Pro Street, if you need more information about this Ford Escape Stereo Wiring Diagram or stereo wiring in your Ford Escape, simply leave us a message and ask!
Hi. I’m trying to wire in a sub and amp to my 2013 ford escape se this weekend, I want to put the rear speakers into the line output converter and I was wondering if there’s somewhere I can splice into those wires aside from the center of the front dash under the windshield? There’s just not much room right there to work.
Hi Jason! Thanks for commenting!
if you need to tap from the line output converter, you should be able to tee from the rear harness of the vehicle if space is tight up front. We are well aware of those issues regarding lack of space in your Ford Escape stereo. Thanks for reading our Ford Escape stereo wiring guide and let us know how it turns out!
Hi I was wondering if you were able to get your system all set up my boyfriend and I are actually trying to do mine right now
Hi, I would like to install a stereo from a 2007 escape in to a 1997 ranger. . At the back of the stereo from the escape. If you look from the back on the left side there is a square plugin that has 4 wires coming from it and I an not sure what they are for. Hopefully you can help.
Hi Darryl, thanks for reading.
Are you talking about the factory stereo in your Escape? If you are trying to install the factory Escape stereo into a Ford Ranger, you will have more problems that solutions. It’s probably best to buy a cheap head unit to get your Ford Ranger stereo upgraded.
Hope that helps! Thanks for commenting!
I have a 2007 Ford Escape. I have wired a double din radio with navigation and rear camera, it’s a boss brand. I have everything wired and it is draining my battery. I need some info to make sure I have everything wired properly
Hi David, thanks for reading and commenting sir.
When you installed the double din, did you use a plug and play harness or did you simply wire it up yourself? Do you have the 5v+ switched power hooked up and where is it hooked up to in your 2007 Ford Escape stereo wiring?
Hi John, I’m trying to install an aftermarket android stereo in my base model 13’ escape (with 4” screen). Which wiring harness would I need to make this work? I don’t care if I loose sync.
Hi Rick, if you don’t care about the Ford SYNC functions, or your steering wheel controls, you can use this Escape stereo wiring diagram to get the job done. Failing that however you can also use a plug and play stereo loom to install your Escape stereo. Hope that helps! Thanks for commenting!
I have a 2013 Escape. I want navigation so I bought an NOS Sony head and the other two boxes that are behind it. I am told it is a complete system with synch and navigation. My current radio is a Sony with synch. Obviously I’ll need the antenna, but other than that, can I just swap it out?
Thanks
Hi Bob, yep you sure can! I would look into a flying loom to help you complete your Ford Escape stereo upgrade. Something like this will work great :
2013 Escape wiring harness
Thanks for reading!
Im trying to hook up a line out converter for an amp. The only place I can find wires matching the speaker colors I need to tap in are right at the stock sony amp that came with it. Is it ok to tap in there? I cant find the wires behind the head unit.
The Escape stereo line out converter wire can be teed from your factory amp just fine. Make sure to disconnect the rest of your Ford amplifier to ensure that your factory unit doesn’t stay on.
Hello,
I have a 2009 Ford Escape XLT FWD, with SYNC, no Navigation,
with steering wheel controls (which I don’t need ). I wish to replace
the factory stereo/CD player ( Audio Control Module ) with a
JVC KD-R420 unit, which I previously used in a ’94 Escort
successfully.
I need help in identifying the wiring in the factory connectors
leading to the ACM —- I can only identify the SPEAKER
wires and the two 12 V wires. I can’t find a GROUND wire, or
the ILLUMINATION or DIMMER wires. There is no external
amp, so I don’t care about an ‘ amp trigger ‘ wire.
As I said, all the speaker wires (front & rear ) are there and
adhere to your wire code re: ‘ second generation ‘ Escapes.
There are TWO connectors, both with red colored faces, a LARGE
connector and a SMALLER connector. The large one has the
speaker wires and the two 12V wires at one end, as well as three
thinner wires in the middle of the connector (what are these ?);
the smaller one has 8 wires (again, what are these ?).
There is also a thick, flexible wire with a roundish YELLOW
connector leading to the center of the back of the ACM (again,
what is this ?). The connectors are stamped with the following :
PBT – GF30 .
My JVC unit has a wire harness for the speakers, and a harness
for the two 12V wires, a black ground wire and a yellow illumination
wire.
If you can contact me by email, would be better —- I can give
you a color photo attachment, as well as a drawing of the rear
of each connector, with wire colors and pin numbers, if you
require this.
Thanx loads for your help,
Chris
ccurran001@yahoo.ca
Hi Chris, thanks for reading my Ford Escape stereo wiring guide.
Can you take a picture of the harnesses in question? The large Escape stereo connector should have your ground wire in question. that’s the wire your JVC stereo wiring should connect to. For best results tracking down ground, use a multimeter and connect to power and probe all the wires in the large harness.
hope that helps! happy new year!
I have a 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. Your wiring colors for that year list Violet/Red twice, once for the ground wire and then for the amp trigger. Which is it?
Hey Steven, sorry about that
the 2009 Ford Escape stereo ground wire is black with gray. Hope that helps
Hi john, I’m installing an amp and sub, but I need to tap the line on the rear speakers to get frequencies to my amp. Does the 2018 escape Se have the rear harness for the factory amp? And could I tap into that to wire to my amp?
The rear speakers should run from your factory amp, but if you are installing an aftermarket amp I would recommend using the Ford Escape speaker wires directly from your factory unit. A plug and play wiring harness would be the easiest way. Hope that helps!
Hello John
I have a ford escape year 2013. I want to know where to find the
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ wire. I can not find it on the harness of the radio.
Do you know where to find it?
Hi Navin, thanks for reading my Escape stereo wiring guide.
If you can’t find this wire on your stereo harness, an alternate is to tee into your ignition switch. Use a multimeter and tap into the wire that’s hot with the key set to the “ON” position.
Hope that helps!
I have a 2017 ford escape se what are my best speakers to tie into for my LOC? Front or rear? And what color wires are they? And where should I tap into them in the vehicle? Behind head unit? I am putting subs in back and would like to have my amp back there also. Thanks for your time and page here.
Hey Matt, thanks for reading.
Installing an amp in the back with woofers is an easy upgrade, and should sound great in your Escape. Tape into the front for your LOC for best results, for the wiring, those should come from your factory Ford Escape radio sub harness.
Hope that helps! Let me know how it turns out! Thanks for commenting.
It has no speaker in the very back just in the back doors
I have a 2014 Ford Escape titanium 2.0 and I’m trying to install a LOC line output converter do I tap in right behind the radio or to the amplifier in the back and is it just pretty much like it says match up the L plus L negative r plus r negative Is the ground and the switch into each spot coordinating with the wires in the car I watched the video where someone was putting the positives together left positive right positive and left negative right negative together and plugging them in to make a mono sound I need help with this
Wow! I think I may have a new hero! JOHN, I have a cpl “?’s”…
John, I have an 08 Escape Basic edition. No navigation no satellite radio. I am have a sub and Amp I want installed. I am still deciding on radio but it will be a newer one w/ Bluetooth & backup camera. I do already have a 4ga Amp kit. My husband will do my install but I need to make sure I have everything before he starts.
What wiring harness do I need?
Obviously, I am a complete novice. However, based on the info I’ve dug up, if it has the Audiophile system, it would have a speaker behind the passenger backseat. It does not. So, am I safe to assume it doesn’t have the Audiophile system?
Believe it or not, I have called Ford customer svc, and a Ford dealership. Both of whom treated me like a little girl that was clueless and didn’t answer my questions about my factory radio system. I’m 45 and just want a little thump. Is that too much for this crazy pink/redhead to ask? Lolol
On a serious note, I would be so super grateful for any info you can give because this will be our first aftermarket install with an Amp and sub.
Will a 400w bridgeable w/ Crossover 4 channel Amp be enough to push a 12” 2500w speaker?
Oh,, And what exactly are OHMS?
I have a 2017 Escape with Sync system. Do you know what wires are used for the steering wheel controls? I’m trying to splice in with a control module for my new stereo, but I’m not sure what wires to connect to
I have a 2017 escape with the 4.2 inch screen. I’m trying to install an aftermarket head unit, but I’m not sure which wires to splice into for the steering wheel controls. Do you know which wires those would be?